Hybrid waveform design combining OFDM and cyclic prefix based single carrier for millimeter-wave wireless communication

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices are described for generating a hybrid waveform for data transmission between a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device may employ an OFDM processing technique to periodically transmit known first pilot symbols mapped from a signal constellation where each signal has equal energy during a first time period and a cyclic prefix based single-carrier (CP-SC) processing technique to transmit data packets and second known pilot symbols during a second time period. Channel estimation is based on first pilot symbols, which are inserted into all subcarriers of OFDM symbol blocks within a specific period. Channel estimation tracking is based on the second pilot symbols interleaved within data packets. The receiving device may be configured to estimate CSI based in part on first pilot symbols and to track the channel estimation based in part on the second pilot symbols in order to provide reliable data detection.

CROSS REFERENCES

The present Application for Patent is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/233,304, titled “Hybrid Wave Form DesignCombining OFDM and Cyclic Prefix Based Single Carrier forMillimeter-Wave Wireless Communication,” filed Aug. 10, 2016, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/242,609 by Zhao, etal., titled “Hybrid Waveform Design Combining OFDM and Cyclic PrefixBased Single Carrier For Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communication,” filedApr. 1, 2014, assigned to the assignee hereof.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-accesssystems capable of supporting communication with multiple users bysharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, andpower). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-divisionmultiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA)systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, andorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems. WirelessLocal Area Networks (WLANs), such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) networks arealso widely deployed and used.

Generally, a wireless multiple-access communications system may includea number of base stations or access points, each simultaneouslysupporting communication for multiple mobile devices. Base stations oraccess points may communicate with mobile devices on downstream andupstream links. Each base station or access point (AP) has a coveragerange, which may be referred to as the coverage area of the cell.Wireless communication between base stations and mobile devices mayinclude high data rates. In such situations, the performance of awireless communication system is mainly governed by the wireless channelenvironment. High data rate transmission and high mobility oftransmitters and/or receivers usually experiences challengingfrequency-selective and time-selective fading channel conditions.Mitigating such fading conditions results in an efficient datatransmission.

Accurate estimate of channel state information (CSI) impacts theperformance of a wireless communication system. In contrast to thetypical static characteristics of a wired channel, the wireless channelmay be dynamic and change quickly. Orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) has been conventionally adopted for a wide range ofwireless and wireline applications. The major virtues of OFDM includeits resilience to multipath propagation, the possibility of achievingchannel capacity, and the availability of frequency diversity schedulingin multiuser communication systems. However, although the OFDM basedtransmission has become the physical layer for broadband communications,it suffers from several drawbacks including a large peak-to-averagepower ratio (PAPR), intolerance to amplifier nonlinearities, and highsensitivity to carrier frequency offsets. As a result, implementation ofan OFDM system to transmit data across a wireless channel may not beoptimal for certain wireless systems.

An alternative approach to OFDM systems focuses on Cyclic Prefix (CP)single-carrier (SC) modulation techniques. While a CP basedsingle-carrier transmission system with frequency-domain equalizationmay provide a lower peak-to-average power ratio than an OFDM system, theCP based SC systems may suffer from poor channel estimation withcomparable or even high implementation complexity against OFDM system ina fast-variant channel environment. Therefore, adoption of CP based SCmodulation techniques to assist with channel estimation may not beideal. While both OFDM and SC modulation techniques provide certainunique advantages, each suffers from inherent drawbacks that negativelyimpact the performance of a wireless channel with respect to channelestimation and data transfer.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally relates to one or more improvedsystems, methods, and/or apparatuses for generating a hybrid waveformfor data transmission between a transmitting device and a receivingdevice. In certain embodiments, the transmitting device (e.g., a basestation and/or mobile device) may employ an OFDM processing technique toperiodically transmit known first pilot symbols during a first timeperiod and a cyclic prefix based single-carrier (CP-SC) processingtechnique to transmit data packets and a plurality of second pilotsymbols during a second time period. In some examples, channelestimation is based on the first pilot symbols, which may be insertedinto all subcarriers of OFDM symbol blocks within a specific period. Thereceiving device may estimate CSI based on the first pilot symbols,track the channel estimation based on the second pilot symbols, and thusprovide reliable data detection. By adopting a hybrid waveformcomprising an OFDM processing technique for channel estimation and aCP-SC for tracking channel conditions and transmitting data, the presentdisclosure realizes benefits of both the OFDM and CP-SC modulatingschemes while minimizing the drawbacks of each.

In accordance with a first set of illustrative examples, a disclosedmethod for transmitting data in a wireless communication is described.In one example, the method includes generating a first subframe fortransmission based at least in part on a first pilot symbols using afirst processing technique. The method may further include generating asecond subframe for transmission based at least in part on a secondpilot symbols using a second processing technique. In such an example,the first processing technique and the second processing techniques aredifferent. The illustrative method may further comprise transmitting thefirst and second subframes.

In certain examples, the first processing technique may compriseOrthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and the secondprocessing technique may comprise cyclic prefix single carrier (CP-SC).Generating the first subframe for transmission may comprise mapping theplurality of first pilot symbols onto a signal constellation. Eachsignal on the constellation may have equal energy. The method mayfurther comprise converting the signal constellation from a frequencydomain to a time domain by applying an inverse fast Fourier transform(IFFT) to the plurality of first pilot symbols. In yet another example,generating the second subframe for transmission may comprise inserting acyclic prefix and plurality of second pilot symbols into the secondsubframe.

In certain examples, the plurality of second pilot symbols may beinserted into the second subframe according to an equal time delay. Yetin another example, the plurality of second pilot symbols may beinserted into the second subframe according to an unequal time delay.The first pilot symbols may be used by a receiver to conduct channelestimation. Conversely, the plurality of second pilot symbols may beused for channel estimation tracking. In some examples the wirelesscommunication operates over an unlicensed frequency spectrum. Theunlicensed frequency spectrum may comprise a 60 GHz band. In certainexamples, the first subframe may be transmitted during a first timeperiod and the second subframe may be transmitted during a second timeperiod. The first and second time periods may be adjacent.

According to a second set of illustrative embodiments, an example of anapparatus for transmitting data in a wireless communication isdisclosed. The apparatus may comprise a processor and a memory inelectronic communications with the processor. The memory may embodyinstructions, the instructions being executable by the processor togenerate a first subframe for transmission based in part on a firstpilot symbols using a first processing technique. The instructions beingexecutable by the processor may further generate a second subframe fortransmission based at least in part on a second pilot symbols using asecond processing technique. The first processing technique and thesecond processing technique may be different. The processor may furthertransmit the first and second subframes. In certain examples, theapparatus may further implement one or more aspects of the method fortransmitting data in a wireless communication system described abovewith respect to the first set of illustrative embodiments.

According to a third set of illustrative embodiments, an example of anapparatus for transmitting data in a wireless communication isdisclosed. In one example, a first processing module may generate afirst subframe for transmission based at least in part on a first pilotsymbols using a first processing technique. In another example, a secondprocessing module may generate a second subframe for transmission basedat least in part on a second pilot symbols using a second processingtechnique. The first processing technique and the second processingtechnique may be different. A transmitter module may transmit the firstand second subframes. In certain examples, the apparatus may furtherimplement one or more aspects of the method for transmitting data in awireless communication system described above with respect to the firstset of illustrative embodiments.

According to a fourth set of illustrative embodiments, a method forreceiving data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. In someexamples, the method may comprise receiving, at a receiving device, afirst subframe encoded using a first processing technique and a secondsubframe encoded using a second processing technique during a first andsecond time periods respectively. The method may further compriseestimating initial channel conditions based in part on the first pilotsymbols, wherein the first pilot symbols are received, at the receivingdevice, in the first subframe. Yet further, the method may track channelconditions based in part on a plurality of second pilot symbols, whereinthe plurality of second pilot symbols are received in the secondsubframe. A plurality of data packets may be detected based in part onthe channel estimates and in part on the channel estimation trackinginformation.

In some examples, the first processing technique may comprise orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing processing and the second processingtechnique may comprise cyclic-prefix single-carrier (CP-SC) processing.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that thedetailed description that follows may be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conceptionand specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features whichare believed to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein, bothas to their organization and method of operation, together withassociated advantages will be better understood from the followingdescription when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only, and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In theappended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1, shows a diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunications system, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communicationssystem of a transmitting device that may be implemented in either thebase station and/or the mobile station, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communicationssystem, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communicationssystem of a transmitting device including a subframe generation module,in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the receiving device that may beimplemented in either the base station and/or the mobile device, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the subframe analysis module, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the subframe analysis module, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an example of a mobile device in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an example of a base station or access point in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is an example of frame structure based on the hybrid waveformin accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10B is an alternative example of frame structure based on thehybrid waveform in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method of providingwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method of providingwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method of providingwireless communication configured in the receiving device, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In certain embodiments, a transmitting device (e.g., a base stationand/or mobile device) may employ an OFDM processing technique toperiodically transmit known first pilot symbols during a first timeperiod and a cyclic prefix based single-carrier (CP-SC) processingtechnique to transmit data packets during a second time period. In someexamples, channel estimation is based on a block-type pilot arrangement,wherein the pilot symbols may be inserted into all subcarriers of theOFDM symbol blocks within a specific period. Based in part on such pilotsymbols, the receiving device may be configured to estimate CSI andprovide reliable data detection. In yet further examples of the presentdisclosure, scatter pilot symbols may be interleaved (multiplexed) withthe data packets based on the CP-SC processing technique. The scatterpilot symbols may allow the receiving device to track channel conditionsfollowing an initial estimation based on the known first pilot symbols.In some embodiments, the transmission between the base station (oraccess point) and mobile device may include a millimeter-wave wirelesscommunication operating over an unlicensed frequency spectrum.

By adopting a hybrid waveform comprising an OFDM processing techniquefor channel estimation and a CP-SC for tracking channel conditions andtransmitting data, the present disclosure realizes benefits of both theOFDM and CP-SC modulating schemes while minimizing the drawbacks ofeach. Such realized inventive features significantly overcomes thedrawbacks of conventional systems and/or methods.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as cellular wireless systems, Peer-to-Peerwireless communications, wireless local access networks (WLANs), ad hocnetworks, satellite communications systems, and other systems. The terms“system” and “network” are often used interchangeably. These wirelesscommunications systems may employ a variety of radio communicationtechnologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA),Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), and/or otherradio technologies. Generally, wireless communications are conductedaccording to a standardized implementation of one or more radiocommunication technologies called a Radio Access Technology (RAT). Awireless communications system or network that implements a Radio AccessTechnology may be called a Radio Access Network (RAN).

The following description provides examples, and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Changesmay be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussedwithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. Various embodimentsmay omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components asappropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in anorder different from that described, and various steps may be added,omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certainembodiments may be combined in other embodiments.

FIG. 1, shows a diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunications system 100, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. The wireless communication system 100 includes aplurality of base stations 105 (e.g., eNBs, WLAN access points, or otheraccess points), a number of user equipments (UEs) 115, and a corenetwork 130. Some of the base stations 105 may communicate with the UEs115 under the control of a base station controller (not shown), whichmay be part of the core network 130 or certain ones of the base stations105 in various examples. Some of the base stations 105 may communicatecontrol information and/or user data with the core network 130 throughbackhaul 132. In some examples, some of the base stations 105 maycommunicate, either directly or indirectly, with each other overbackhaul links 134, which may be wired or wireless communication links.The wireless communication system 100 may support operation on multiplecarriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). Multi-carriertransmitters can transmit modulated signals simultaneously on themultiple carriers. For example, each communication link 125 may be amulti-carrier signal modulated according to the various radiotechnologies described above. Each modulated signal may be sent on adifferent carrier and may carry control information (e.g., pilotsymbols, reference signals, control channels, etc.), overheadinformation, data, etc. The system 100 may be a multi-carrier LTEnetwork capable of efficiently allocating network resources.

The base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 115 viaone or more base station antennas. Each of the base stations 105 mayprovide communication coverage for a respective coverage area 110. Insome examples, a base station 105 may be referred to as an access point,a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radiotransceiver, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), aNodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, a WLANaccess point, a Wi-Fi node or some other suitable terminology. Thecoverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be divided into sectorsmaking up only a portion of the coverage area (not shown). The wirelesscommunication system 100 may include base stations 105 of differenttypes (e.g., macro, micro, and/or pico base stations). The base stations105 may also utilize different radio technologies, such as cellularand/or WLAN radio access technologies. The base stations 105 may beassociated with the same or different access networks or operatordeployments. The coverage areas of different base stations 105,including the coverage areas of the same or different types of basestations 105, utilizing the same or different radio technologies, and/orbelonging to the same or different access networks, may overlap.

The wireless communication system 100 may be or include a heterogeneousLTE/LTE-A network in which different types of base stations 105 providecoverage for various geographical regions. For example, each basestation 105 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a picocell, a femto cell, and/or other type of cell. Small cells such as picocells, femto cells, and/or other types of cells may include low powernodes or LPNs. A macro cell, for example, covers a relatively largegeographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allowunrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions with the networkprovider. A pico cell would, for example, cover a relatively smallergeographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with servicesubscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell would also, forexample, cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and, inaddition to unrestricted access, may also provide restricted access byUEs having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closedsubscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). An eNBfor a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNB for a picocell may be referred to as a pico eNB. And, an eNB for a femto cell maybe referred to as a femto eNB or a home eNB. An eNB may support one ormultiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells.

The core network 130 may communicate with the base stations 105 via abackhaul 132 (e.g., S1 application protocol, etc.). The base stations105 may also communicate with one another, e.g., directly or indirectlyvia backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2 application protocol, etc.) and/or viabackhaul 132 (e.g., through core network 130). The wirelesscommunication system 100 may support synchronous or asynchronousoperation. For synchronous operation, the eNBs may have similar frameand/or gating timing, and transmissions from different eNBs may beapproximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the eNBs mayhave different frame and/or gating timing, and transmissions fromdifferent eNBs may not be aligned in time. The techniques describedherein may be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.

The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communicationsystem 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 mayalso be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile device, amobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit,a wireless unit, a remote unit, a wireless device, a wirelesscommunication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, anaccess terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remoteterminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or someother suitable terminology. A UE 115 may be a cellular phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communicationdevice, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, acordless phone, a wearable item such as a watch or glasses, a wirelesslocal loop (WLL) station, or the like. A UE 115 may be able tocommunicate with macro eNBs, pico eNBs, femto eNBs, relays, and thelike. A UE 115 may also be able to communicate over different types ofaccess networks, such as cellular or other WWAN access networks, or WLANaccess networks. In some modes of communication with a UE 115,communication may be conducted over a plurality of communication links125 or channels (i.e., component carriers), with each channel orcomponent carrier being established between the UE and one of a numberof cells (e.g., serving cells, which in some cases may be different basestations 105).

The communication links 125 shown in wireless communication system 100may include uplink channels (or component carriers) for carrying uplink(UL) communications (e.g., transmissions from a UE 115 to a base station105) and/or downlink channels (or component carriers) for carryingdownlink (DL) communications (e.g., transmissions from a base station105 to a UE 115). The UL communications or transmissions may also becalled reverse link communications or transmissions, while the DLcommunications or transmissions may also be called forward linkcommunications or transmissions.

In certain examples of the present disclosure, a UE 115 may communicatewith a serving base station 105 using a millimeter-wave (MMW) wirelesscommunication channel operating in the 57-66 GHz unlicensed frequencyspectrum. In other examples, the UE 115 may communicate with the servingbase station 105 using released MMW bands at 70, 80 and 90 GHz,including, but not limited to licensed and unlicensed bands. In certainembodiments, a transmitting device (e.g., base station 105 and/or UE115) may transmit control information (e.g., pilot symbols) to areceiving device (e.g., base station 105 and/or UE 115) over acommunication link 125 using an OFDM processing technique. The receivingdevice may estimate channel conditions between the transmitting deviceand the receiving device based at least in part on the received pilotsymbols. The transmitting device may further transmit a plurality ofscatter pilot symbols (second pilot symbols) interleaved with datapackets over the wireless channel using a CP-SC processing technique.The scatter pilot symbols may facilitate channel estimation tracking.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 200 of an apparatus 205 for use in wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In some examples, the apparatus 205 may be an example of atransmitting device, for example, one or more of the base stations 105and/or UEs 115 described with reference to FIG. 1. The apparatus 205 mayalso be a processor. The apparatus 205 may include a transmitting devicereceiver module 210, a frame management module 215, and/or atransmitting device transmitter module 220. Each of these components maybe in communication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 205 may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

The transmitting device receiver module 210 may be used to receivevarious types of data and/or control signals (i.e., transmissions, pilotsymbols) over one or more communication links of a wirelesscommunication system, such as one or more communication links 125 of thewireless communication system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1.The transmitting device receiver module 210 may further receive dataand/or control signals from internal components (not shown) of thetransmitting device 205. The transmitting device receiver module 210 mayreceive information such as packet, data, and/or signaling informationvia signal 202. The received information may be utilized by the framemanagement module 215 to establish communication with a receivingdevice, such as, at least one or more other UEs 115 and/or base stationsin communication with the transmitting device 205 described withreference to FIG. 1.

The frame management module 215 may be used to control the receipt ofwireless communications via the transmitting device receiver module 210and/or to control the transmission of wireless communications via thetransmitting device transmitter module 315. Controlling the transmissionof wireless communications of the transmitting device transmitter module220 may comprise generating a plurality of frames and subframes based inpart on the control information (e.g., pilot symbols) and a plurality ofdata packets obtained from the transmitting device receiver module 210via signal 204. The frame management module 215 may identify each of thereceived types of data and/or control signals and generate subframes inaccordance with at least one of a plurality of processing techniquesknown in the art. In certain examples, the processing techniques maycomprise an OFDM and/or a CP-SC processing technique configured togenerate subframes based in part on the type of identified information.The generated subframes may be forwarded to the transmitting devicetransmitter module 220 via signal 206 to be modulated over the wirelesschannel.

The transmitting device transmitter module 220 may include at least oneRF transmitter. The transmitter module 220 may be used to transmitvarious types of data and/or control signals (i.e., transmissions, pilotsymbols) over one or more communication links of a wirelesscommunication system, such as one or more communication links 125 of thewireless communication system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 inaccordance with the hybrid waveforms described in present disclosure.The transmitter module 220 may transmit information such as packets,data, and/or signaling information based in part on the generated framesand subframes prepared by the frame management module 215 viacommunication link 208.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram 300 of an apparatus 205-a for use inwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. In some examples, the apparatus 205-a may be anexample of the transmitting device 205 described with reference to FIG.2. The apparatus 205-a may also be a processor. The apparatus 205-a mayinclude a transmitting device receiver module 210-a, a frame managementmodule 215-a, and/or a transmitting device transmitter module 220-a asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2. In accordance with the presentdisclosure, the frame management module 215-a may further include apacket identification module 305 and/or a subframe generation module310. Each of these components may be in communication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 205-a may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

In one embodiment, the transmitting device receiver module 210-a and thetransmitting device transmitter module 220-a may operate and function aspreviously described with reference to FIG. 2. In some examples, thetransmitting device receiver module 210-a may forward various types ofdata and/or control signals (i.e., transmissions, pilot symbols)received at the receiver module 205-a via signal 302 to the framemanagement module 215-a via communication link 304. In some examples,the packet identification module 305 may identify and distinguish thevarious types of data and/or control signals into a plurality of regularpilot symbols (first pilot symbols), a plurality of scatter pilotsymbols (second pilot symbols) and a plurality of data packets. Thepacket identification module 305 may forward the identified pilotsymbols and data packets to the subframe generation module 310 viacommunication link 306 for processing.

In certain embodiments, the subframe generation module 310 may receive aplurality of identified pilot symbols and a plurality of identified datapackets. The subframe generation module 310 may prepare frames and/or aplurality of subframes in accordance with one of a plurality ofprocessing techniques. The plurality of processing techniques maycomprise one or more of the multi-carrier OFDM and/or CP-SC processingtechniques. In certain examples, the subframe generation module 310 maygenerate a first subframe using the multi-carrier OFDM processingtechnique based on identified regular pilot symbols. In yet furtherexample, the subframe generation module 310 may generate a secondsubframe using a CP-SC processing technique based in part on theidentified data packets and a plurality of scatter pilot symbols. Thesubframe generation module 310 may generate a plurality of subframes inaccordance with at least one of the processing techniques and forwardthe generated subframes to the transmitting device transmitter module220-a via communication link 308. The transmitter module 220-a maymodulate the generated subframes over the wireless channel 312 using anyof the known modulation techniques including, but not limited tophase-shift keying (PSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM),frequency-shift keying (FSK), and/or amplitude-shift keying (ASK).

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram 400 of an apparatus 310-a for use inwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. In some examples, the apparatus 310-a may be anexample of the subframe generation module 310 described with referenceto FIG. 3. FIG. 4 also shows block diagrams of packet identificationmodule 305-a and a transmitter device transmitter module 220-b. In someexamples, the packet identification module 305-a may be an example ofthe packet identification module 305 described with reference to FIG. 3.Similarly, the transmitting device transmitter module 220-b may be anexample of the transmitter module 220 described with reference to FIG. 2and/or FIG. 3. The apparatus 310-a may also be a processor. Theapparatus 310-a may include a regular pilot storage 405, data storage410, scatter pilot storage 415, OFDM processing sub-module 420,single-carrier processing sub-module 425, interleaver sub-module 430and/or a cyclic prefix insertion sub-module 435. Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 310-a may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

In one embodiment, the subframe generation module 310-a may receive aplurality of regular pilot symbols (first pilot symbols), a plurality ofdata packets, and a plurality of scatter pilot symbols (second pilotsymbols) as identified by the packet identification module 305-a viacommunication links 306-a, 306-b and 306-c. The subframe generationmodule 310-a may temporarily store the received regular pilot symbols inregular pilot storage 405, data packets in data storage 410, and scatterpilot symbols in scatter pilot storage 415 respectively. Regular pilotstorage 405, data storage 410 and scatter pilot storage 415 may embodyany suitable storage systems including, but not limited to buffers,Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or queues.

In some examples, the regular pilot symbols configured to facilitatechannel estimation are stored in the regular pilot storage 405 prior tobeing forwarded to the OFDM processing sub-module 420 via communicationlink 402. The OFDM processing sub-module 420 may receive a plurality ofregular pilot symbols in the frequency domain and apply an OFDMprocessing to generate a plurality of first subframes. In some examples,the OFDM processing may include, for example, mapping the plurality ofreceived regular pilot symbols onto a signal constellation using knownmapping schemes. Each signal on the constellation may have an equalenergy. The mapped signal constellation may then be converted from afrequency domain to a time domain by, for example, an inverse fastFourier transform. The converted signal constellation may then beforwarded to a cyclic prefix insertion sub-module 435 via communicationlink 412 for insertion of a CP onto the OFDM pilot symbol block.

In certain examples, the cyclic prefix insertion sub-module 435 mayinsert a cyclic prefix (CP) in every block according to the systemspecification. The insertion of a CP to the generated subframes allowthe transmitted signal to maintain orthogonal characteristics at severetransmission conditions. A CP may be a repetition of the last datasymbols of a block and may be appended to prevent contamination of ablock by intersymbol interference (ISI) from a previous block. Followinginsertion of a CP, the generated subframe may be forwarded viacommunication link 416 to the transmitter device transmitter module220-b to be modulated onto a multi-carrier channel to the receivingdevice.

In yet other examples, data packets, as identified by the packetidentification module 305-a, and configured for transmission on thewireless channel may be stored in the data storage 410 prior to beingprocessed by the single-carrier processing sub-module 425. Similarly,scatter pilot symbols configured to facilitate channel estimationtracking may be stored in the scatter pilot storage 415. In contrast tothe regular pilot symbols, the plurality of data packets and scatterpilot symbols obtained by the single-carrier processing sub-module 425may be in time domain. The single-carrier processing sub-module 425 mayreceive a plurality of data packets via communication link 404 and aplurality of scatter pilot symbols via communication link 408. However,prior to its transmission to the single-carrier processing sub-module425, the scatter pilot symbols may first be routed through aninterleaver sub-module 430 via communication link 406. The interleaversub-module 430 may forward the plurality of scatter pilot symbols forinsertion into data subframes on a pre-determined time delay. In someexamples, the pre-determined time delay may be an equal length delayperiod. In yet another example, the time delay may be eitherpseudo-random or dynamically adjustable.

The single-carrier processing sub-module 425 may process a plurality oftime domain data packets and scatter pilot symbols according to a secondprocessing technique. In one example, the second processing techniquemay comprise SC. The single-carrier processing sub-module 425 maygenerate a plurality of second subframes based in part on the receiveddata packets, and a plurality of scatter pilots. The generated subframesmay be forwarded to the cyclic prefix insertion sub-module 435 viacommunication link 414. The cyclic prefix insertion sub-module 435 mayinsert a CP in every received block according to the systemspecification and may forward the CP-SC generated subframes viacommunication link 416 to the transmitter device transmitter module220-b for modulation onto a multi-carrier channel to the receivingdevice.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram 500 of an apparatus 505 for use in wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In some examples, the apparatus 505 may be an example of areceiving device, for example, one or more of the base stations 105and/or UEs 115 described with reference to FIG. 1. The apparatus 505 mayalso be a processor. The apparatus 505 may include a receiving devicereceiver module 510, a subframe analysis module 715, and/or a receivingdevice transmitter module 520. Each of these components may be incommunication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 505 may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

The receiving device receiver module 510 may be used to receive varioustypes of data and/or control signals (i.e., transmissions, pilotsymbols) over communication links of a wireless communication system,such as one or more communication links 125 of the wirelesscommunication system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. Thereceiver module 510 may further receive data and/or control signals frominternal components (not shown) of the receiving device 505. Thereceiver module 510 may receive information such as packet, data, and/orsignaling information via signal 502. The received information may beutilized by the subframe analysis module 515 to establish communicationwith the transmitting device 205 as described with reference to FIG. 2and/or FIG. 3.

The subframe analysis module 515 may be used to control the receipt ofwireless communications via the receiver module 510 and/or demodulatethe received control signals (pilot symbols) and data packets inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In someexamples, subframe analysis module 515 may be configure to analyze aplurality of frames and subframes based in part on the controlinformation (e.g., pilot symbols) and a plurality of data packetsobtained from the receiving device receiver module 510 via communicationlink 504. The subframe analysis module 515 may identify each of thereceived types of data and/or control signals to estimate and trackchannel conditions between the transmitting device and the receivingdevice. Each of the transmitting device and/or receiving device may beat least one or more base stations and/or UEs as described withreference to FIG. 1.

The receiving device transmitter module 520 may include at least one RFtransmitter. The receiving device transmitter module 520 may be used totransmit various types of data and/or control signals (i.e.,transmissions, pilot symbols) over one or more communication links of awireless communication system, such as one or more communication links125 of the wireless communication system 100 described with reference toFIG. 1 in accordance with the hybrid waveforms described in presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram 600 of an apparatus 515-a, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, theapparatus 515-a may be an example of the subframe analysis module 515described with reference to FIG. 5. The apparatus 515-a may also be aprocessor. The apparatus 515-a may include a cyclic prefix removalsub-module 605, fast Fourier transform sub-module 610, channelestimation sub-module 615, frequency-domain equalization sub-module 620,channel tracking sub-module 625, inverse fast Fourier transformsub-module 630 and detection sub-module 635. Each of these componentsmay be in communication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 515-a may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

In some embodiments, the subframe analyses module 515-a may receive aplurality of symbols from the transmitting device over a wirelesschannel. The received symbols may be forwarded to the subframe analysismodule 515-a via communication link 602 between the subframe analysismodule 515-a and the receiving device receiver module 520 as describedwith reference to FIG. 5. The received signal 602 may reflect timedomain of received frame and/or packet reflecting channel corruptions,phase noise and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The cyclic prefixremoval sub-module 605 may remove the appended CP from each of thereceived symbols prior to transmitting the symbols to the fast Fouriertransform sub-module 610 via communication link 604. In some examples,the fast Fourier transform sub-module 610 may convert the received timedomain symbols into frequency domain symbols to allow the channelestimation sub-module 615 and the channel tracking sub-module 625 toconduct channel estimation.

The regular pilot symbols derived from converting the received regularpilot symbols from time domain to frequency domain may be forwarded tothe channel estimation sub-module 615 via communication link 606.Similarly, the scatter pilot symbols may be forwarded to the channeltracking sub-module 625 via link 612 for processing upon conversion tothe frequency domain. Each of the channel estimation sub-module 615 andchannel tracking sub-module 625 may extract the pilot symbols from thereceived signal, for example through correlation, and determine thechannel estimate based in part on the received pilot symbols. In someinstances, the channel estimation sub-module 615 may multiply thereceived pilot symbols with a complex conjugate of the known pilotsymbols to obtain channel state information of the wireless channelbetween the transmitting device and the receiving device. The channelestimation sub-module 615 may estimate channel for all 512 subcarriersbased on the first two blocks in frequency domain and apply the channelestimation to the received frame/packet. In further example, the channelestimation sub-module 615 and channel tracking sub-module 625 mayestimate channel conditions based on any one of Least Square (LS),Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE) or Least Mean-Square (LMS) estimatorsto determine the best estimate of the amplitude and phase errors foreach of the transmission frequencies. Similarly, the received scatterpilot symbols may be processed by the channel tracking sub-module 625 totrack the channel conditions following the channel estimation based inpart on the regular pilot symbols. In certain examples, the channelestimates may be fed into a frequency domain equalizer sub-module 620via communication links 614 and 616 in order to provide reliable datadetection. In accordance with the present disclosure, signal 616 mayprovide estimated phase noise in frequency domain for the receivedframe/packet.

In some examples, the frequency domain equalization sub-module 620 mayreceive data symbols from the fast Fourier transform sub-module 610 viacommunication link 608. The frequency domain equalization sub-module mayyet further receive channel estimates from the channel estimationsub-module 615 via communication link 614 and channel trackingsub-module 625 via link 616. Based in part on the estimated channelconditions, the frequency domain equalization sub-module 620 may correctthe distortions introduced by the channel by applying amplitude andphase corrections specific to each of the frequencies used. Thecorrected signal is thereafter forwarded to the inverse fast Fouriertransform sub-module 630 via link 618 to convert the signal from afrequency domain back to the time domain. In accordance with theillustrated embodiment, signal 618 may reflect the received data infrequency domain compensated for channel fading and phase noise. In someinstances, signal 618 may comprise AWGN. The converted time domainsignal is transmitted from the inverse fast Fourier transform sub-module630 to the detection sub-module 635 via communication link 622 in orderto detect undistorted data packets received at the receiving device. Insome examples, signal 622 may reflect recovered original transmitteddata in time domain with AWGN. In yet another embodiments, signal 622may be recovered original transmitted data in time domain with AWGNcompensated.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of an apparatus 515-b, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, theapparatus 515-b may be an example of the subframe analysis module 710described with reference to FIG. 5. The apparatus 515-b may also be aprocessor. The apparatus 515-b may include a cyclic prefix removalsub-module 705, channel variation compensation sub-module 710, channeltracking sub-module 715, fast Fourier transform sub-module 720,frequency-domain equalization sub-module 725, channel estimationsub-module 730, inverse fast Fourier transform sub-module 735 anddetection sub-module 740. Each of these components may be incommunication with each other.

The components of the apparatus 710-b may, individually or collectively,be implemented using one or more application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicablefunctions in hardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed byone or more other processing units (or cores), on one or more integratedcircuits. In other examples, other types of integrated circuits may beused (e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

In some embodiments, the subframe analyses module 515-b may receive aplurality of symbols from the transmitting device over a wirelesschannel. The received symbols may be forwarded to the subframe analysismodule 515-b via communication link 702 between the subframe analysismodule 515 and the receiving device receiver module 510 as describedwith reference to FIG. 5. The received signal 702 may comprise aframe/packet reflected in time domain comprising any number of channelcorruption, phase noise and/or AWGN. The cyclic prefix removalsub-module 705 may remove the appended CP from each of the receivedsymbols prior to transmitting the scatter pilot symbols to the channeltracking sub-module 715 via communication link 706. In such examples,the symbols may be forwarded from the cyclic prefix removal sub-module705 to the channel variation compensation sub-module 710 viacommunication link 704. In some examples of the present disclosure, thechannel tracking may be performed in the time domain. The channeltracking sub-module 715 may extract the scatter pilot symbols from thereceived signal, for example through correlation, and determine thechannel estimate based in part on the received pilot symbols. Thechannel tracking sub-module 715 may further track the channel conditionsbased in part on the scatter pilot symbols and forward the channeltracking conditions to the channel variation compensation sub-module 710via communication link 708.

In some examples, the channel variation compensation sub-module 710 maycompensate the received symbols and/or subframes based on the channelconditions tracked by the channel tracking sub-module 715. The channelvariation compensation sub-module 710 may further forward thecompensated symbols and/or subframes to the fast Fourier transformsub-module 720 via communication link 712. Signal 712 provides aframe/packet in time domain compensated for various channel corruptions,phase noise, and AGWN to the fast Fourier transform sub-module 720. Thefast Fourier transform sub-module 720 may convert the received timedomain compensated symbols into frequency domain symbols to allow thechannel estimation sub-module 730 to conduct channel estimation. In someinstances, the channel estimation sub-module 730 may multiply thereceived pilot symbols with a complex conjugate of the known pilotsymbols to obtain channel state information of the wireless channelbetween the transmitting device and the receiving device.

In yet further example, the channel estimation sub-module 730 mayestimate channel conditions based on any one of Least Square (LS),Minimum Mean-Square Error (MMSE) or Least Mean-Square (LMS) estimatorsto determine the best estimate of the amplitude and phase errors foreach of the transmission frequencies. The channel estimates may be fedinto a frequency domain equalizer sub-module 725 via communication links718 in order to provide reliable data detection.

In some examples, the frequency domain equalization sub-module 725 mayreceive data symbols from the fast Fourier transform sub-module 720 viacommunication link 714. Based in part on the estimated channelconditions, the frequency domain equalization sub-module 725 may correctthe distortions introduced by the channel by applying amplitude andphase corrections specific to each of the frequencies used. Thecorrected signal may thereafter be forwarded to the inverse fast Fouriertransform sub-module 735 via link 722 to convert the signal from afrequency domain back to the time domain. In some examples, theconverted time domain signals may be transmitted from the inverse fastFourier transform sub-module 735 to the detection sub-module 740 viacommunication link 724 in order to detect undistorted data packetsreceived at the receiving device.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a UE 115-a configured for wirelesscommunication, in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The UE 115-a may have various configurations and may beincluded or be part of a personal computer (e.g., a laptop computer,netbook computer, tablet computer, etc.), a cellular telephone, a PDA, adigital video recorder (DVR), an internet appliance, a gaming console,an e-reader, etc. The UE 115-a may in some cases have an internal powersupply (not shown), such as a small battery, to facilitate mobileoperation. In some embodiments, the UE 115-a may be an example of one ormore aspects of one of the devices 115 described with reference toFIG. 1. The UE 115-a may be configured to implement at least some of thefeatures and functions described with reference to FIG. 1, 2, 3, and/orFIG. 5. The UE 115-a may be configured to communicate with one or moreof the access points or devices 105 described with reference to FIG. 1and/or FIG. 2.

The UE 115-a may include a UE processor module 810, a UE memory module820, at least one transceiver module (represented by UE transceivermodule(s) 830), at least one antenna (represented by UE antenna(s) 840),frame management module 215-b and/or a subframe analysis module 515-c.Each of these components may be in communication with each other,directly or indirectly, over one or more buses 835.

The UE memory module 820 may include random access memory (RAM) and/orread-only memory (ROM). The UE memory module 820 may storecomputer-readable, computer-executable software (SW) code 825 containinginstructions that are configured to, when executed, cause the UEprocessor module 810 to perform various functions described herein forcommunicating over a wireless communications system. Alternatively, thesoftware code 825 may not be directly executable by the UE processormodule 810 but be configured to cause the UE 115-a (e.g., when compiledand executed) to perform various of the functions described herein.

The UE processor module 810 may include an intelligent hardware device,e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, etc.The UE processor module 810 may process information received through theUE transceiver module(s) 830 and/or information to be sent to the UEtransceiver module(s) 830 for transmission through the UE antenna(s)840. The UE processor module 810 may handle various aspects ofcommunicating over a wireless communications system.

The UE transceiver module(s) 830 may include a modem configured tomodulate packets and provide the modulated packets to the UE antenna(s)840 for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the UEantenna(s) 1040. The UE transceiver module(s) 830 may in some cases beimplemented as one or more transmitter modules and one or more separatereceiver modules. The UE transceiver module(s) 830 may supportcommunications in a first spectrum, such as a WWAN or cellular spectrum,and in a second spectrum, such as a WLAN spectrum. The UE transceivermodule(s) 830 may be configured to communicate bi-directionally, via theUE antenna(s) 840, with one or more of the access points or devices 105(e.g., eNBs and/or WLAN access points) described with reference toFIG. 1. While the UE 115-a may include a single antenna, there may beembodiments in which the UE 115-a may include multiple UE antennas 840.

The frame management module 215-b may be an example of one or moreaspects of the frame management module 215 described with reference toFIGS. 2 and/or 3. The frame management module 215-b may be configured togenerate subframes based in part on a hybrid waveform comprising an OFDMbased regular pilot symbols, and CP-SC based scatter pilot symbols anddata packets. The frame management module 215-b, or portions of it, mayinclude a processor, and/or some or all of the functionality of theframe management module 215-b may be performed by the UE processormodule 810 and/or in connection with the UE processor module 810.

Similarly, the subframe analysis module 515-c may be an example of oneor more aspects of subframe analysis module 515 as described withreference to FIGS. 7 and/or 8. The subframe management module 515-c maybe configured to receive and analyze a plurality of symbols receivedover the wireless channel to conduct channel estimation and datadetection in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.The subframe analysis module 515-c, or portions of it, may include aprocessor, and/or some or all of the functionality of the subframeanalysis module 515-c may be performed by the UE processor module 810and/or in connection with the UE processor module 810.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram 900 illustrating a WLAN access point 105-aconfigured for wireless communication, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the WLAN accesspoint 105-a may be an example of one or more aspects of one of theaccess points or devices 105 described with reference to FIG. 1. TheWLAN access point 105-a may be configured to implement at least some ofthe features and functions described with reference to FIG. 1. The WLANaccess point 105-a may include an AP processor module 910, an AP memorymodule 920, at least one transceiver module (represented by APtransceiver module(s) 955), at least one antenna (represented by APantenna(s) 960), a frame management module 215-c and/or subframeanalysis module 515-d. Each of these components may be in communicationwith each other, directly or indirectly, over one or more buses 935.

The AP memory module 920 may include RAM and/or ROM. The AP memorymodule 920 may store computer-readable, computer-executable software(SW) code 925 containing instructions that are configured to, whenexecuted, cause the AP processor module 910 to perform various functionsdescribed herein. Alternatively, the software code 925 may not bedirectly executable by the AP processor module 910 but be configured tocause the WLAN access point 105-a (e.g., when compiled and executed) toperform various of the functions described herein.

The AP processor module 910 may include an intelligent hardware device,e.g., a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, etc. The AP processor module910 may process information received through the AP transceivermodule(s) 955 and/or the network communications module 940. The APprocessor module 910 may also process information to be sent to the APtransceiver module(s) 955 for transmission through the AP antenna(s) 960or to the network communications module 940 for transmission to anetwork 945 (e.g., the Internet, or a core network such as the corenetwork 130 described with reference to FIG. 1).

The AP transceiver module(s) 955 may include a modem configured tomodulate packets and provide the modulated packets to the AP antenna(s)960 for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the APantenna(s) 960. The AP transceiver module(s) 955 may in some cases beimplemented as one or more transmitter modules and one or more separatereceiver modules. The AP transceiver module(s) 955 may supportcommunications in a first spectrum, such as a WLAN spectrum, and in somecases a second spectrum, such as a WWAN spectrum. The AP transceivermodule(s) 955 may be configured to communicate bi-directionally, via theAP antenna(s) 960, with one or more of the UEs or devices 115 describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and/or 2, for example. The WLAN access point105-a may typically include multiple AP antennas 960 (e.g., an antennaarray). The WLAN access point 105-a may communicate with the network(s)130-a through the network communications module 940.

The frame management module 215-c may be an example of one or moreaspects of the frame management module 215 described with reference toFIGS. 3 and/or 3. The frame management module 215-c may be configured togenerate subframes based in part on a hybrid waveform comprising an OFDMbased regular pilot symbols and CP-SC based data packets. The framemanagement module 215-c, or portions of it, may include a processor,and/or some or all of the functionality of the frame management module215-c may be performed by the AP processor module 910 and/or inconnection with the AP processor module 1110.

Similarly, the subframe analysis module 515-d may be an example of oneor more aspects of subframe analysis module 515 as described withreference to FIGS. 5 and/or 6. The subframe management module 515-d maybe configured to receive and analyze plurality of symbols received overthe wireless channel to conduct channel estimation and data detection inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The subframeanalysis module 515-d, or portions of it, may include a processor,and/or some or all of the functionality of the subframe analysis module515-d may be performed by the AP processor module 910 and/or inconnection with the AP processor module 910.

FIGS. 10A and 10B, show an example of a frame structure 1000, 1000-abased on the hybrid waveform in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. In some embodiments, the frame structures 1005-a-n,1005-b may be examples of one or more frames generated by variousaspects of the frame management module 215 described with reference toFIGS. 2 and/or 3. The frames in accordance with the present disclosuremay be divided into a plurality of subframes or blocks 1005-a-n, 1005-b.Each frame 1000, 1000-a may contain either 8 or 16 subframes and/orblocks 1005-a-1, 1005-a-2, 1005-a-n, wherein each subframe comprising512 modulation symbols.

With reference to FIG. 10A, in certain embodiments, the frame managementmodule may generate a first subframe 1010-a-1 based at least in part onthe regular pilot symbols using an OFDM processing technique. In someexamples, the regular pilot subframes 1010-a-1, 1010-a-2 may extend thefirst two subframe blocks 1005-a-1, 1005-a-2 during the first timeperiod. In yet another example, with reference to FIG. 10B, the regularpilot subframe 1010-b may transmit on only the first subframe 1005-bduring a shortened first time period. In the foregoing examples, eachsubframe block 1005-a-1, 1005-a-2 may comprise 512 modulation symbolscarrying regular pilots. The regular pilot subframe and/or blocks may berepeated every 16 blocks.

In certain examples illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a frame managementmodule of the transmitter device may generate a second subframe 1005-a-3using a CP-SC processing technique during a second time period. Thesecond subframe 1005-a-3 may be based at least in part on a plurality ofdata packets 1015-a-1, 1015-a-n and a plurality of scatter pilot symbols1020-a-1, 1020-a-n. Similar to regular pilot blocks, the data blocks maycomprise 512 modulation symbols in each data block. In some examples,the scatter pilot symbols 1020-a-1, 1020-a-n may be interleaved,inserted or multiplexed between the plurality of data packets 1015-a-1,1015-a-n on equal time delay as illustrated in FIG. 10A. In suchinstances, the scatter pilot symbols 1020-a-1, 1020-a-n may beinterleaved every 64 data modulation symbols with each block. As aresult, each data block may comprise eight scatter pilot symbols1020-a-1, 1020-a-n. In an additional or alternative example, the scatterpilot symbols 1020-b-1, 1020-b-n may be multiplexed into data packets1015-b-1, 1015-b-n on varying time delay as illustrated in FIG. 10B.

In foregoing embodiments, the receiving device may receive the frames1000, 1000-a. The subframe analysis module as discussed with referenceto FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and/or FIG. 9 may receive a plurality of firstsubframes 1005-a-1, 1005-a-2 encoded using OFDM processing techniquecomprising a plurality of regular pilot symbols 1010-a-1, 1010-a-2during the first time period. In some examples, receiving device mayfurther receive a plurality of second subframes 1005-a-3, 1005-a-nencoded using CP-SC processing technique based in part on the pluralityof data packets 1015-a-n and scatter pilots 1020-a-n. The subframeanalyses module may decode the received frame 1000, 1000-a and estimatechannel conditions based in part on the received regular pilot symbols1010-a-1 and/or 1010-a-2. The subframe analyses module may further trackchannel conditions based at least in part on the scatter pilots 1020-a-ninterleaved within data packets 1015-a-n. Based on the estimated andtracked channel conditions, the subframe analysis module may beconfigured to detect the data packets 1015-a-n reliably and adjust forany distortions that may have been introduced during data transmission.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1100 forwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. For clarity, the method 1100 is described below withreference to aspects of one or more of the transmitting devices. In someexamples, either a base station, access point or a mobile device mayexecute one or more sets of codes to control the functional elements ofthe base station to perform the functions described below.

At block 1105, the method 1100 may include generating a first subframefor transmission based at least in part on a plurality of first pilotsymbols using a first processing technique. At block 1110, the methodmay further include generating a second subframe for transmission basedat least in part on a plurality second pilot symbols using a secondprocessing technique. The first processing technique and secondprocessing techniques may be different. The operation(s) of block 1105and/or 1110 may be performed by the subframe generation module 310described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and/or 9.

At block 1115, the method 1100 may further include transmitting thefirst and second subframes. The operation(s) of block 1115 may beperformed by the transmitting device transmitter module 210 describedwith reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 8 and/or 9.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1200 forwireless communication, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. For clarity, the method 1200 is described below withreference to aspects of one or more of the transmitting devices 205described with reference to FIGS. 1 and/or 2. In some examples, either abase station, access point or a mobile device may execute one or moresets of codes to control the functional elements of the base station toperform the functions described below.

At block 1205, the method 1200 may include identifying a plurality offirst pilot symbols, a plurality of second pilot symbols and a pluralityof data packets for transmission over a wireless channel. In someexamples, identifying a plurality of first pilot symbols, a plurality ofsecond pilot symbols and a plurality of data packets may comprisedistinguishing each of the received signals from frames configured fortransmission. The operation(s) at block 1205 may be performed using theframe management module 215 described with reference to FIGS. 2, 8and/or 9 and/or the packet identification module 305 described withreference to FIGS. 3 and/or 4.

At block 1210, the method 1200 may further include providing thesubframe generation module the identified first and second pilot symbolsand data packets. At block 1215, the method may comprise generating afirst subframe using the OFDM processing technique based at least inpart on the first pilot symbols. At block 1220, the method may furtherinclude generating a second subframe using the CP-SC processingtechnique based at least in part on the second pilot symbols inserted inthe plurality of data packets. The operation(s) of blocks 1210, 1215and/or 1220 may be performed using the packet identification module 305and subframe generation module 310 as described with references to FIG.3.

At block 1225, the method 1200 may comprise inserting a plurality ofsecond pilot symbols into the plurality of data packets on equal timedelay. The operation(s) of block 1325 may be performed using theinterleaver sub-module 430 as described with reference to FIG. 4.Finally, at block 1230, the method 1200 may further include transmittingthe first and second subframes. The operation(s) of block 1230 may beperformed by the transmitting device transmitter module 220 describedwith reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 8 and/or 9.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 1300 forwireless communication configured in the receiving device, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. For clarity, the method1300 is described below with reference to aspects of one or more of thereceiving devices described with reference to FIG. 1, 8, and/or FIG. 9.In some examples, either a base station, access point or a mobile devicemay execute one or more sets of codes to control the functional elementsof the base station to perform the functions described below.

At block 1305, the method 1300 may comprise receiving, at the receivingdevice, a first subframe encoded using first processing technique and asecond subframe encoded using second processing technique during a firstand second time periods respectively. The operation(s) of block 1305 maybe performed using the receiving device receiver module 510 as describedwith reference to FIG. 5.

At block 1310, the method may further comprise estimating initialchannel conditions based in part on a plurality first pilot symbols. Thefirst pilot symbols may be received, at the receiving device, in thefirst subframe. The operation(s) of block 1310 may be performed usingchannel estimation sub-module 615 and/or 730 as described with referenceto FIGS. 6 and/or 7.

At block 1315, the method may further comprise tracking channelconditions based in part on a plurality of second pilot symbols. Theplurality of second pilot symbols are received in the second subframe.The operation(s) of block 1315 may be performed using channel trackingsub-module 625 and/or 715 as described with reference to FIG. 6 and/or.Finally, at block 1320, the method 1300 may comprise detecting aplurality of data packets based in part on the channel estimations. Theoperation(s) of block 1320 may be performed using detection sub-module635, 740 as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and/or 7.

The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appendeddrawings describes exemplary embodiments and does not represent the onlyembodiments that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred”or “advantageous over other embodiments.” The detailed descriptionincludes specific details for the purpose of providing an understandingof the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuringthe concepts of the described embodiments.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the above description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. For example,due to the nature of software, functions described above can beimplemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware,hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementingfunctions may also be physically located at various positions, includingbeing distributed such that portions of functions are implemented atdifferent physical locations. Also, as used herein, including in theclaims, “or” as used in a list of items prefaced by “at least one of”indicates a disjunctive list such that, for example, a list of “at leastone of A, B, or C” means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., Aand B and C).

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be anyavailable medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code means in the form of instructions or data structures andthat can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer,or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connectionis properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote sourceusing a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable aperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scopeof the disclosure. Throughout this disclosure the term “example” or“exemplary” indicates an example or instance and does not imply orrequire any preference for the noted example. Thus, the disclosure isnot to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is tobe accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting data in a wirelesscommunication, comprising: generating a first subframe, having a firstcyclic prefix, for transmission based at least in part on a plurality offirst pilot symbols using a first processing technique; generating asecond subframe, having a second cyclic prefix, for transmission basedat least in part on a plurality of second pilot symbols using a secondprocessing technique; and transmitting the first and second subframes.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the firstprocessing technique to be orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing(OFDM) and the second processing technique to be cyclic prefix singlecarrier (CP-SC).
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: mappingthe plurality of first pilot symbols onto a signal constellation witheach signal on the signal constellation having approximately equalenergy; and converting the signal constellation from a frequency domainto a time domain by applying an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) tothe plurality of first pilot symbols.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising generating the first cyclic prefix to comprise a repetitionof at least one of the first pilot symbols and generating the secondcyclic prefix to comprise a repetition of at least one of the secondpilot symbols or time domain data packets of the generated secondsubframe.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring thewireless communication transmission to operate over an unlicensedfrequency spectrum comprising at least a 60 GHz band.
 6. An apparatusfor transmitting data in a wireless communication, comprising: aprocessor; a memory configured to be in electronic communications withthe processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions beingexecutable by the processor to: generate a first subframe, having afirst cyclic prefix, for transmission based at least in part on aplurality of first pilot symbols using a first processing technique;generate a second subframe, having a second cyclic prefix, fortransmission based at least in part on a plurality of second pilotsymbols using a second processing technique; and transmit the first andsecond subframes.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, the processor beingfurther executable to configure the first processing technique to beorthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) and the secondprocessing technique to be cyclic prefix single carrier (CP-SC).
 8. Theapparatus of claim 6, the processor being further executable to: map theplurality of first pilot symbols onto a signal constellation with eachsignal on the signal constellation having approximately equal energy;and convert the signal constellation from a frequency domain to a timedomain by applying an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to theplurality of first pilot symbols.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, theprocessor being further executable to generate the first cyclic prefixto comprise a repetition of at least one of the first pilot symbols andgenerating the second cyclic prefix to comprise a repetition of at leastone of the second pilot symbols or time domain data packets of thegenerated second subframe.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, the processorbeing further executable to configure the wireless communicationtransmission to operate over an unlicensed frequency spectrum comprisingat least a 60 GHz band.
 11. An apparatus for transmitting data in awireless communication, comprising: a processor circuit module sized andshaped to generate a first subframe, having a first cyclic prefix, fortransmission based at least in part on a plurality of first pilotsymbols using a first processing technique and a second subframe, havinga second cyclic prefix, for transmission based at least in part on aplurality of second pilot symbols using a second processing technique;and a transmitter module sized and shaped for transmitting the first andsecond subframes over an unlicensed frequency spectrum comprising atleast a 60 GHz band.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, the first processingtechnique comprising orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)and the second processing technique comprising cyclic prefix singlecarrier (CP-SC).
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, the processor circuitmodule further configured to: mapping the plurality of first pilotsymbols onto a signal constellation, wherein each signal on theconstellation has equal energy; and converting the signal constellationfrom a frequency domain to a time domain by applying an inverse fastFourier transform (IFFT) to the plurality of first pilot symbols. 14.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cyclic prefix contained withinthe first generated subframe includes a repetition of at least one ofthe first pilot symbols of the generated first subframe, and the cyclicprefix contained within the second generated subframe includes arepetition of at least one of the second pilot symbols or at least oneof the time domain data packets of the generated second subframe. 15.The apparatus of claim 11, the processor circuit module configured toarrange in protocol data fashion the plurality of first pilot symbolsfor channel estimation and the plurality of second pilot symbols forchannel estimation tracking.
 16. A method for receiving data in awireless communication, comprising: receiving, at a receiving device, afirst subframe encoded using a first processing technique having a firstcyclic prefix, and a second subframe encoded using a second processingtechnique having a second cyclic prefix, during a first and second timeperiods respectively; estimating initial channel conditions based inpart on a plurality of first pilot symbols received, at the receivingdevice, in the first subframe; tracking channel conditions based in parton a plurality of second pilot symbols received in the second subframe;and detecting a plurality of data packets based in part on the channelestimations and in part on the channel estimation tracking information.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first processing techniquecomprises orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) processingand the second processing technique comprises cyclic-prefixsingle-carrier (CP-SC) processing.